Category: Independent News

  • Middletown hosts events for moms and children

    MIDDLETOWN — The Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department of the township is offering two special events where moms can create a memory with their sons and daughters. The annual Girls Night Out will be held 7-10 p.m. Saturday, April 10, Friday, April 16, and Friday, April 23. Middletown mothers can escort their daughters (grades…

  • Walling resigns from Keyport Boro Council

    Three-term councilman says he’s tired of fighting with mayor BY TIM SHORTELL Democratic Councilman George Walling surprised political allies and opponents alike by resigning from the Keyport Borough Council on Jan. 20. George Walling Walling, a three-term councilman known for his fiery denouncements of Mayor Robert Bergen’s administration, said he was leaving office because he…

  • 9/11 responders urge action on benefits bill

    Ralliers press Pallone to move bill out of committee BY KENNY WALTER Despite the driving rain, more than 30 people rallied in front of Rep. Frank Pallone Jr.’s Long Branch office Monday to urge the congressman to move forward with a bill that would guarantee extended health care for 9/11 first responders and people who…

  • MAMS bridges lunchtime with literature

    Lunch Bunch program brings public library into school BY JACQUELINE HLAVENKA Staff Writer Students are satisfying their hunger for learning — and their appetites — outside the cafeteria at Matawan-Aberdeen Middle School (MAMS). Students work on crafts during Lunch Bunch, a new lunchtime program held in the Matawan-Aberdeen Middle School media center. Chrissie McGovern, Youth…

  • Mat-Ab District considers Race to the Top grant

    Teachers’ union opposes federal reform initiative BY JACQUELINE HLAVENKA MATAWAN— The Matawan-Aberdeen Board of Education approved a submission to the federal Race to the Top (RTTT) grant program that proposes innovation and reforms to the educational system. The board voted on Jan. 25 at Ravine Drive School to join other districts applying for funding through…

  • Aberdeen, Matawan revisit plans for transit village

    Each has own developer for train station project BY JACQUELINE HLAVENKA Staff Writer Aberdeen and Matawan are planning separately for redevelopment of the train station. MATAWAN — Both Aberdeen Township and Matawan Borough are revising redevelopment plans for the area surrounding the Matawan- Aberdeen Train Station to reach a common goal between both towns, despite…

  • Senator’s bill proposes putting end to COAH

    Towns would be authorized to plan for development of affordable housing BY MARK ROSMAN Abill that would abolish the state Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) has been introduced in the state Senate as S-1. The bill was introduced in a Senate session that was held after Gov. Chris Christie was inaugurated on Jan. 19. Sen.…

  • Bayshore towns awarded county open space grants

    Keyport Borough and Middletown Township both received grant funding from the 2009 Monmouth County Open Space Trust Fund on Dec. 22. Among the awards were $52,000 for the creation of a skate park on Division Street in Keyport and $250,000 for the development of two new ballfields and trails in partnership with the borough of…

  • FBI conducting manhunt for Middletown bank robber

    MIDDLETOWN — Law enforcement authorities are searching for a man who they say robbed a bank and escaped with an undisclosed amount of cash on Jan. 8. At around 6 p.m., a man wearing sunglasses and a hooded sweatshirt approached a teller at the Bank of America on Route 35 and Navesink River Road and…